Wenger Holds Talks With President Over Deal To Sign £50m Liverpool & Man Utd Target

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Arsenal step-up their pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette…

Arsenal have held talks with Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas to try and thrash out a deal to sign Liverpool and Manchester United target Alexandre Lacazette this summer, according to The Sun.

Lacazette has just come off the back of another excellent season having scored 37 goals in all competitions for Lyon to enhance his reputation as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

That form has led to interest from the Premier League with the Metro reporting recently that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United were all tracking the French international.

Jurgen Klopp is in the market to sign a top class striker amid on-going doubts over the future of Daniel Sturridge and Lacazette is the type of goal-scorer that will help Liverpool be a force in the Premier League and Champions League next season.

L’Equipe [via the Metro] also claimed last week that Lacazette was favouring a move to Old Trafford after Jose Mourinho turned his attention to signing the 26-year-old after missing out on Antoine Griezmann.

However, it seems Arsenal have stolen a march on their rivals as The Sun claim Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis met with Lyon earlier this week to try and agree a deal to sign Lacazette.

The Gunners duo were photographed at Nice airport on Monday and the newspaper says they were in the south of France to meet Jean-Michael Aulas at his luxury villa in Cap Ferrat where they discussed a potential £50m deal.

Wenger desperately needs to sign a world class striker to turn Arsenal back in to genuine title challengers after missing out on the top four and The Sun claims the north Londoners are ready to lure Lacazette with a £200,000-a-week contract.

Arsenal were handed a major boost in their pursuit after Lacazette made a u-turn on his previous claim that he would only leave Lyon for a club in the Champions League.

The striker is quoted as saying by The Sun:

“The Champions League is important but it is not a deal-breaker for my next club.”

“The Premier League is interesting and I will look for a club where there are not too many players in my position, so I will not be benched.”

So it looks as though Arsenal do have a chance of landing Lacazette if they can guarantee him regular football and they can agree a fee with Lyon, but I’m sure the likes of Liverpool and United won’t give up without a fight.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

We’ll have to see how things develop over the coming days but I think Lacazette would be an excellent addition for any of the three clubs being linked and would love to see him plying his trade here in the Premier League next season.